'I'm Alive - That's Enough': Putin's Strange Statement and the Secret That Accompanies Him in a Suitcase
China is hosting these days a summit meeting attended by leaders from Eastern powers | What is hidden behind Russian President Putin's surprising statement and are the rumors about the secret suitcase true?
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A high-profile summit is underway in China, drawing international attention with the participation of key global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, alongside representatives from India, Iran, Turkey, North Korea, and host nation China. Putin's four-day visit has particularly captured headlines amid ongoing speculation about his well-being.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the sole leader from a European Union member state attending the event in Beijing, held a meeting with Putin. According to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, the conversation opened with Fico inquiring about Putin's health. The Russian leader responded wryly: "If I'm alive, that's already good enough."
Putin's offhand remark gains added significance in the context of persistent reports about extraordinary security protocols surrounding his health, including the use of a "special suitcase." Multiple accounts suggest that when Putin travels abroad, his security detail collects his fecal samples and transports them back to Russia.
This practice has been documented on several occasions. The Express US reported that it dates back years, including during Putin's trip to France in May 2017. Similar measures are allegedly in place during his current visit to China, with bodyguards carrying a suitcase containing the samples.
The purported goal is to thwart foreign intelligence agencies from analyzing the material to uncover details about Putin's health or genetics. Stool samples can reveal critical information, such as stress levels, underlying diseases, liver or kidney issues, and even medications being taken, sensitive data for any world leader.
Historical precedents underscore the intelligence value of such samples. For instance, the MGB, the precursor to the KGB, examined Chinese leader Mao Zedong's feces in 1949 to assess his health.
These reports emerge against a backdrop of widespread speculation about the 72-year-old president's condition. Over the years, concerns have included involuntary leg movements observed during a press conference in Kazakhstan last November, which one doctor suggested could indicate a neurological disorder like Parkinson's disease. Putin also appeared to hunch in his chair during a 2023 meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
In 2022, the Kremlin moved to quash rumors circulated by a Telegram channel claiming Putin had stumbled and lost his balance. Officials have consistently denied such reports, focusing instead on maintaining the president's public image.